The Miller Center is a nonpartisan affiliate of the University of Virginia that specializes in presidential scholarship, public policy and political history and strives to apply the lessons of history to the nation’s most pressing contemporary governance challenges. more →

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From presidents Carter, George H.W. Bush, Clinton, and George W. Bush.

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Paul Warnke

Speaker: Paul C. WarnkeDate: January 15, 1969DescriptionAs Defense Department General Counsel at the Pentagon (1966-1967), Warnke developed a close working relationship with Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. As Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (1967-1969), Warnke tried to reduce the level of U.S. military activity in Vietnam in the beginning of 1968. He opposed further troop increases and played an indirect role in convincing President Johnson of the need for de-escalation.